"Havoc" caused by lack of hospital funding (From Bucks Free Press)

Amersham Hospital cuts debated in Parliament

3:31pm Thursday 17th December 2009 in Health By Andy Carswell

HEALTHCARE officials in south Bucks are “working like Trojans” in a bid to deal with the “havoc” caused by a lack of money, MPs said this week.

Amersham and Chesham MP Cheryl Gillan said she had been sent “absolutely heartbreaking” letters by residents concerned about cuts in hospital services in her constituency when the subject was raised in Parliament on Tuesday.

And Wycombe MP Paul Goodman likened healthcare in the county to being like the Red Queen in the novel 'Alice in Wonderland', as officials “had to run to stand still”.

The debate took place in the House of Commons after Mrs Gillan raised concerns about cuts in 40 per cent of services at Amersham Hospital.

She said: “Although we have relatively good health, we have only average care. Those are not my words, they are the words of health care management professionals.

“Our GPs and other NHS staff are working like Trojans to see more patients, as well as offering community services and trying to reduce the elective and out-patient demand. They are trying to balance the books, but they are doing so against almost impossible odds.

“I can honestly say that some of the letters I have received are absolutely heartbreaking. Many of my elderly constituents find the journeys and the confusion of the changes almost impossible to deal with.”

Wycombe MP Paul Goodman said: “Local people undoubtedly feel that their ownership of the service, which was never particularly strong, has been compromised in the past eight years, and that, when cuts and closures have been put on the table, besides some of the improvements that have taken place, they have not had any say in what has happened.

“In Buckinghamshire we are like the Red Queen in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, who had to run to stand still.

“The funding shortage is having a paralysing effect on change in the local NHS. The deficit, and the shuffling of deficits back and forth between the hospital trusts and the PCT, is a millstone round the neck of the foundation status application.”

The debate was also attended by fellow south Bucks MPs David Lidington and Dominic Grieve.

Responding to the MPs' concerns, the Minister of State for the Department of Health, Phil Hope, said: “The NHS has faced long-standing financial pressures locally. That point has been made and I recognise it.

“However, it has told me that it is working to address those issues. Both the hospital trust and the PCT are working to break even for 2009-10. The hospital trust tells me it expects a 15 per cent drop in demand for out-patient services in the next few years as care is increasingly, and rightly, delivered by GPs and other community services.”

Speaking after the debate, Mrs Gillan said: “I am deeply concerned about the funding shortages. The speed of the changes imposed by the Government is causing havoc for the people of Buckinghamshire. Clinics are moving, counselling services are shutting and our GPs and NHS staff are under intense strain.

“Buckinghamshire Health Trust receives 17 per cent less funding than the national average. As winter sets in, our services will be pushed to the limit and the Government must address this situation immediately.

“Sadly the Minister seemed more engaged in trying to make political points rather than addressing the genuinely raised problems.”